This blog has nothing to do with gorillas (though I love 'em)...fellow bloggers have inspired me to share vintage images of Disneyland from my personal collection. But don't be surprised if you see something from a World's Fair, Knott's Berry Farm, or someplace else that is cool!

Monday, March 01, 2010

Those of you who haunt this blog (and the other many fine Disneyland blogs out there) have seen lots of pictures of the iconic Carnation truck that was parked outside of Disneyland's "Carnation Corner" for so many years.

A while ago I wondered (in writing) what ever happened to that much-photographed vehicle, and was surprised to receive an email from a gentleman named Elbridge Stuart. Here's what he said:

I ran across your blog mentioning the Carnation truck with the query about what might have happened to it. Designed by Bob Gurr and built by the Carnation Company in 1953-1954 it now lives, fully restored, at the Carnation Farm outside of Seattle. It is where the founder of Carnation and the next four generations of his family lived. It was given to us by the Disney Company which had put it in the back lot and did not know what to do with it.

And here it is!

Doesn't it look fantastic? I'm so glad that it is still around, and being cared for so nicely.

I asked Elbridge if he had any info about when and how the Carnation Farm acquired the truck, and he replied:

My guess is... less than 10 years ago. When they went to retrieve it, the back lot staff insisted that the “Disneyland” name be removed from the vehicle before taking it off the lot. I guess for liability purposes. At any rate at was 11:45 and during the discussions the lunch whistle blew and the Disney staff went to lunch. Dave Owens ( the farm manager ) and his son loaded it on the flat bed truck and went home.

My father, who worked at Carnation and represented the company, worked with Walt during those early Disneyland days. He indicated that Walt used to love to drive the truck around but kept getting the narrow tires stuck in the rails of the main street trolley. He was always a little concerned when Walt would wrench the wheel left or right to get the tires out that Walt might run over someone.

In addition to the truck, we also have the big vertical neon Carnation Ice Cream sign that hung just over the front door of the Main Street store. I am trying to get it relit and hung outside our museum at the farm.

Elbridge also included these scans from the March/April 1956 issue of "Carnation Magazine" (back in the day when many companies published their own magazines). SO fantastic!

Here's a great photo of Elbridge's dad serving a delicious-looking milk shake to Walt (notice the Smoke Tree Ranch logo on Walt's tie). I asked about his father, and he said:

My father's name was E. Hadley Stuart Jr, and was the grandson of the founder of the Carnation Company. He started working at the company after college in about 1940. He worked at a number of milk plants in Washington State and the southern US before working at the new world headquarters in Los Angeles... I believe the new headquarters was opened in 1948. My father continued at Carnation until 1961 when he left the company.

...it was probably my father who had the relationship with Walt. He and probably others at the company negotiated the contract with the Disneyland Park for the exclusive right to provide milk and ice cream products. There is an unsubstantiated urban legend that the company also helped Walt get some financing for the park. The park was a stretch for a bank to take a chance on and Walt was having trouble getting financing. The board of directors of Carnation in the 50s contained some California and Washington State high placed bankers. Some members of the Carnation executives also were placed on the boards of some of the same banks. A very cozy relationship.

And finally, one last photo with the Carnation truck, with Ebridge's father and Walt apparently showing the beautiful vehicle to an admiring crowd. Check out those odd hats on the kids!

I do remember as a child, that every year at Christmas, Walt sent us a big box of Disneyland toys that always a lot of fun getting. We also had a type of pass or card that would get Dad and us into Disneyland just by showing it.

MANY THANKS to Elbridge Stuart for generously sharing so much information and the wonderful photos of the truck in its new home, and the other photos as well!

30 comments:

Thank you Major and Mr. Stuart, for this extra special post. I'm so glad to see that the truck has gone on to have a life beyond just being stored in the DL backlot. What were they thinking...why would Disney let it go? Looks like it has a nice home in Washington though. Great stories...especially the one about Disney wanting the name removed, but the staff being too lazy to stick around through lunch to make sure it happened!

Thank you Mr. Elbridge Stuart! Hm. If that's a place I can visit, if I get up that way I now have a place to visit. I'd like to see it and actually the place looks like that isn't the only neat thing there. It looks as whimsical and delightful as ever. And thank you Major for posting this feature. :)

Wonderful post, Major! The Carnation Farm Museum was hard to track down on the net, but the farm was purchased by Camp Korey in 2008, a camp dedicated for children with chronic diseases. It is also available for weddings and corporate retreats. Their site:

WOW -- THE CARNATION TRUCK was something I always walked past without thinking about it, but seeing all the blog photos over the years shows that this was a real photo-op for many families. So nice that the truck has a good home --- ditto the old bandstand --- and I weep for the mechanical animals buried for fossils at the Big Thunder site.

What a great post! That is so great that the truck was saved and is back in front of the public. You really have some great background on it too. I am also glad to hear that Disneyland, when they did not want to use it anymore had the sense to keep it in good shape and contact someone who would restore it! Rather than let it decay or get tossed out or something.

Our father worked for Carnation in Los Angeles for 35 years. In the 60's I believe, employees and families were treated to a day at Disneyland once a year. We have many pictures in our family photo albums in front of and on the truck. There was also a shop nearby where one could create their own "Wanted" poster. Do you remember this.

What fond memories. Thanks ever so much for the trip down memory lane.

Thank you for the update.. I was wondering where it ended up. My great uncle John Twiford was one of the body men for the truck. I have some old pics from the build. I think its great that it is still in good condition. I would love to come see it and get a picture of my kids next to it. Is it at a place where that could happen? If not thats cool just glad to hear its not been scraped. Have a great day Adam Hartley...

Adam Hartley, my Grandfather's body shop built the truck chassis. Perhaps your Great Uncle worked there? It was Field Body Co. in El Monte, CA. Does that sound familiar? I would love to see your photos of the build! Please let me know how I can contact you. Best, Jana

Jana, I truly hope that Adam Hartley sees your comment… but I have the feeling that not many people go back and read comments from nearly five years ago. Unfortunately his blogger information is minimal. Still, very cool to know that you grandfather's shop built the Carnation truck's chassis!

If anyone has pictures of the construction of the truck or anything else related to the history of the vehicle I would love to get copies. The truck still runs and maybe sometime we will take it to some Disney reunion or event. The Farm is now back in the Stuart family hands and tours can be scheduled (easlodge@comcast.net) when personnel are available

The truck was built by my father, foreman of the carnation Los Angeles plant truck garage and my uncle the Forman of the garages body shop. The truck is scaled down to match the scale of Main Street Disneyland it has a modified ford model T body with a ford model A engine. You can see my uncle with his welding glasses on his head in the picture of the carnation magazine that is in this blog. In the early years of the trucks use at Disneyland my dad would go there once a month to service it. They hand built the truck based on the design required by the Disney designers. Both the body and the frame had to be reduced in size and rebuilt